1 Abstract: Economic crises - nature and factors of its origin The purpose of my thesis is to analyze economic crises with focus on its origin, development and impact on society. The thesis is divided into three main parts: Introduction, Main body and Conclusion. The most important part of the thesis is the Main body that is further composed of seven self-contained chapters that deal with different aspects of the economic crises. Main body starts with introductory chapters 1-3 that discuss the meaning of the phrase economic crisis, its origin and determination among other commonly used titles that are frequently mistaken. Chapter number four describes history of important economic crisis such as The Great Depression 1929 and German Hyperinflation 1918- 1924. Chapter number five is subdivided into two parts and provides an outline of the origin of economic crisis and possible forecast of its origin. Chapter six defines the last financial crisis of 2009 and compares its impact to economy and counter-measures worldwide. Chapter number six illustrates possible solutions of the economic crisis and its prevention. Last part of the thesis is Conclusion that concentrates my thoughts and ideas about the thesis. Key words: economic crisis, financial crisis 2009, world economy

M.Comm. (Financial Management) / The costs of the 2007- 09 financial crises on global economies have resulted in new central bank rules to strengthen financial institutions. The question of whether there were any significant differences in capital structures between banks who were liquid and those who were liquidity constrained in the 2007– 2009 global financial crisis, still needs to be answered. Theoretical models on corporate failure partly explain how bank capital management impacts on whether a bank fails or not. This study investigates the differences in capital ratios between banks who were liquidity- stressed and those who were liquid. A comparative analysis of selected banking capital ratios were done followed by a discriminant analysis to determine if there is a relationship between the capital structures of liquid and liquidity- stressed banks. It was found that there were differences in capital structures of liquid and liquidity- stressed banks but capital ratios on their own, could not be used as early warning sign for bank failure.

The topic of financial contagion has attracted increased attention in economic literature over the past three decades; in particular after the Asian crisis of 1997. This dissertation investigates financial contagion and its effects on South Africa after the 2007 global financial crisis. In particular, it examines whether South Africa experienced contagion from the United States stock market to its own over the period 1 July 2007 to 1 April 2009 within the strict definition of contagion or otherwise: the fraction of exceedance events in the stock market that is left unexplained by its own covariates but is explained by the exceedance from another region. This is tested empirically with a binomial-nominal logistic model. In addition to this, various financial and trade transmission mechanisms are tested to empirically determine through which channels the crisis was propagated. The analysis makes use of quarterly data from January 2002 to April 2009, within an OLS framework, with a dummy variable differentiating the periods before and after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. The findings suggest that contagion was in fact not present in this crisis, which speaks to market rationality and indicates that the South African stock market did in fact react rationally to a changing macroeconomic environment over this period. The transmission mechanism analyses indicate that there was a change in the interdependence relationship between the two stock markets following the crash of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. It is apparent that both trade and financial variables played significant roles in the propagation of this crisis.

This dissertation investigates the effects of the financial crisis on the South African economy. In order to do this, an index which describes the financial conditions of the South African economy is constructed and computed. The index indicates that domestic South African financial conditions have deteriorated substantially during the period under study and so the study investigates how this has impacted on the country’s economic growth. A VAR model with South African variables is specified and used to assess the quantitative effects of the financial crisis on South African real GDP growth. Results suggest that the South African economy was not significantly affected by the crisis, but economic growth was slowed down and may still grow substantially slower in the next few years due to the financial crisis. These results corroborate the theoretical predictions and are also supported by previous studies.

The focus of this doctoral research is on developing an enhanced understanding of the nature and operational significance of fair values by studying the organisational systems and processes through which such values are produced. The external reporting of fair values in corporate financial statements has created significant controversy and debate, particularly during the global financial crisis with various accusations and competing defences as to whether or not such a form of accounting caused or exacerbated the crisis. Fair value accounting has been debated mainly from a relevance and reliability perspective, with much attention paid to the relative usefulness of fair value accounting to investors and claims and counter claims relating to the reliability and subjectivity of fair values compared to historical costing approaches. Investigation into implementation issues affecting reliability, however, has been little studied. While an emerging strand of the literature has pointed to the importance of recognising fair value accounting’s social constructed nature, relatively few research papers have examined the construction of fair values and the ways in which such values are shaped by social and organisational contextual influences. This research contributes to such an emerging literature through a detailed case study of the construction of fair values in an international financial services organisation. The primary focus of analysis is the work of the organisation’s central governing body in this area, namely its Fair Value Committee (FVC). The work of the FVC provides a rich empirical base from which to examine the key factors and perspectives influencing the organisation’s approach to fair values. In particular, through a detailed analysis of its formal minutes and supporting interviews with senior members of the FVC and other key organisational actors, the research documents and reflects on the nature and direction of change that the organisation experienced during the global financial crisis with respect to the operation of its fair value system. The main research findings in relation to the nature of the fair value system are: Firstly, the operation of an organisational fair value accounting system emerges not as a demonstrative example of objective, arm’s length pricing but as a social, relational process influenced by the organisational context. Secondly, in studying the way in which fair values are made sense of or constructed to be market consistent, patterns of sensemaking generally invoke a rational and prudent view of the market, which stimulates questioning as to whether fair value accounting is inherently pro-cyclical and exacerbates swings in the financial market. Thirdly, ‘fair value’ pricing should not be seen as being without a semblance of order and routine. Fourthly, the observed growing dependency of fair value accounting on valuation experts provides confirmation of the weakening jurisdictional authority of auditors and their monitoring role in overseeing fair value accounting. Finally, the research reveals clear evidence of the constitutive effects of fair value accounting on the organisation’s investment policy and permitted investments. As such, the acceptance of specialist models to construct fair values should not only be seen as being reflective of the particular organisational context but also serving in part to permit (and encourage) investments in esoteric financial instruments - a constitutive impact on the organisation's investment strategy and risk profile. The study encourages a greater empirical analysis of the operational construction, development and utilisation of fair values so as to advance knowledge and move the debate beyond polemical debates on the status of fair value accounting.

Despite a clear impact on the Canadian economy, little is known about the subsequent health impacts of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This thesis aims to fill this gap in knowledge by conducting a secondary analysis of Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data to assess the impact of the GFC on health in Canada – a country that has not yet been thoroughly studied from this angle. Based on when the respondent completed the survey, exposure to the GFC was categorized into four phases: pre-crisis, crisis, stimulus, and austerity. Outcomes investigated include measures of mental health, physical health, and health-related behaviours. Statistically significant associations were observed between several health outcomes and the austerity period as compared to the pre-crisis period. Austerity has been linked to worsening health in other studies and represents an example of how the policy response can have greater detrimental impact on health than the financial crisis itself.

The aim of my dissertation is examination a general financial situation of the company with classic structure more focused on aplication of creditworthy and bankruptcy models. In the end of my thesis is examinating the company in times of financial crisis.

My thesis inquires into the structure of Italian economy. The goal was to reveal the main factors from the past which affected the contemporary economy of Italy. The Italian economy is specific for it's big number of small and medium enterprises. I analysed the role of this kind of enterprises in the economy and described the impact of financial crisis.The structural problems of this economy such as low level of competitiveness, demographic problem, rigid labour market etc. caused low economic growth and high indebtedness of the country. I tried to find the solutions the problems Italy faces in these days.

After more than 30 years of fast economic development since the Reform and open up to the world in 1978. Chinas socialist market economy is ranked at the worlds second largest economy by nominal GDP. and the worlds largest economy by purchasing power parity according to the IMF today. In spite of the outstanding economic data. China is facing numbers of problems like overcapacity and high financial risk. The goal of this thesis is to dig into the hidden realities behind the fast economic growth of China mainly through analyzing the economic situation after the 2008-09 Chinese economic stimulus plan. which is known asthe 4 trillion RMB (USD 586 billion) stimulus package announced by the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China on 9 November 2008. It is regarded as an attempt to minimize the impact of the global financial crisis on the worlds second largest economy. However. critics of Chinas stimulus package have blamed it for causing a surge in Chinese debt and overcapacity since 2009. particularly among local governments and state-owned enterprises.

This research aims to understand the effect of business models in the Asian banking industry during the most recent financial crisis, and to identify effective banking business models for the post-crisis landscape. This research was based on observations about the importance of the bank business model for reaching bank stability, as well as a lack of research that focuses on Southeast and East Asia. Its main originality is in the application of existing stability models to banks in Asia, which has rarely been tested. The research uses an econometric approach, with several methods selected (including pooled OLS, robust fixed effects, and time fixed effects) on base models. Three hypotheses were posed, tested conditions of bank stability related to diversification strategy, use of interest and non-interest income, and strength of the bank balance sheet indicators. Bank performance was modelled using seven indicators grouped in three categories (Stability, Performance, and Stock returns). The outcome of testing variables was mixed. Diversification was shown to have a nonlinear effect on bank outcomes in most cases. However, excessive diversification could be harmful. Similar results were found for the effect of Interest and Non-interest income on the indicator outcomes. The third test showed that the Cost-to-income ratio and Total assets were key balance sheet indicators, but other variables tested were not significant. Overall, the findings of the research imply that banks do need to consider their business models, since these do affect performance of the bank in economic crisis situations and overall bank stability. Also, it can be concluded that the traditional relationship banking with strong balance sheet and effective risk management system is the most appropriate model in Southeast and East Asia.